CPEC: hardware to software

The writer is a senior economist. He can be contacted at [email protected]

During the elections campaign, the PTI’s platform focused on human development against the PML-N’s preference for large infrastructure projects. After the party’s success, it is only natural to expect a policy shift from the hardware to the software of development. Pakistan’s notorious deficit in human development demands it. The understanding reached with China during the recent visit of the PTI government leadership is to start CPEC phase two as a human development endeavour. According to the joint communique, the “two sides reaffirmed their complete consensus on the future trajectory of the CPEC, timely completion of its on-going projects and joint efforts for realisation of its full potential with a focus on social development.” Towards this end, a working group on socio-economic development has been set up. Under social sector cooperation, the Chinese assistance is to be directed towards education, health, poverty........